14

May 2014

When I was younger, I was one of those kids who put ketchup on everything. My ketchup obsession has slowed down over the years but I still will not accept french fries or a hamburger without it. A girl needs to have principles. I need my french fries covered in tangy sweet tomato goodness.

For years I was a fierce Heinz loyalist. One day a coworker brought Hunt’s ketchup into the office because it was on sale and I pitched a fit. Hunt’s was not ketchup! How was I supposed to enjoy burgers at work?! My coworkers were so amused by my brand loyalty that they made me take a blind taste test to pick out which ketchup was Heinz. I didn’t hesitate in accepting the challenge because I KNEW MY KETCHUP. The truth was that I had not tried Hunt’s since childhood. Guess who failed the blind taste test?

But it wasn’t my fault, Hunt’s had clearly put years of scientific research into copying the flavor profile from the only legitimate ketchup brand.

Fast forward 10 years and I am no longer a Heinz loyalist. While I still love the taste, I’m not thrilled with the fact that high fructose corn syrup is one of the main ingredients. We all know that stuff is poison and it simply doesn’t need to be in ketchup. So these days I’ll often buy organic brands. And now, for the first time, I’ve made my own version! It doesn’t have the same intense tanginess that you get from the store bought varieties but I really like it.

Because I think this ketchup makes a cute gift, I’ve teamed up with one of my favorite craft bloggers, Jessica from Coco and Mingo, to offer DIY printable ketchup labels! She created this beautiful label design that works with Avery 22808 stickers. These stickers are available in several colors including Kraft Brown, which is shown in these images.

In a large dutch oven over medium heat, heat up the chopped rhubarb with 1 cup of water. Bring the mixture to a simmer and let the rhubarb cook until the water is mostly absorbed and the rhubarb is a soft jam consistency, approximately 10-15 minutes. Allow to cool and set aside. Wipe down the dutch oven.

Bundle the peppercorns, mustard seeds, bay leaves, cinnamon, allspice and cloves in a small piece of cheesecloth and tie with kitchen twine securely, leaving about 5 inches of extra twine on 1 end.

Add the olive oil or butter to the clean dutch oven over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until softened, approximately 5 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste, garlic and cayenne and cook for an additional minute.

Transfer to a blender along with the rhubarb and tomatoes. Puree (in batches, if necessary) until smooth. Return the mixture to the dutch oven and add the brown sugar, vinegar and salt. Submerge the the spice bag into the mixture and tie the long end of twine to the top of the pot.

Bring the mixture to a boil over medium high heat, then reduce the heat to medium low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is darker, thick and reduced to about 4 cups, approximately 2 hours. If needed, use a splatter guard to help keep the liquid from bubbling out of the pot.

Remove the spice bag. Strain ketchup through a fine mesh strainer set over a large bowl, pressing on the solids. Let the ketchup cool to room temperature, then season with salt and pepper to taste. Pour cooled ketchup into jars and refrigerate. Ketchup can be refrigerated for up to one month.

Everything looks so delicious + amazing! I can’t wait to try this recipe out… I had such a great time working on this project with you, Jennifer, and I’m so happy at the way they turned out!

http://www.climbinggriermountain.com Lauren @ Climbing Grier Mountain

So, this is flipping fantastic! Love the addition of rhubarb!

http://realfoodbydad.com Matt Robinson

The flavoring in this ketchup, wow! Love it and we are big ketchup people here too, so this would be a lot of fun to try!

http://www.bakersroyale.com bakersroyale@yahoo.com

This is so creative . . . and psst, I’m with you I still love ketchup, especially on my scrambled eggs.

http://www.noshon.it Vijay @ NoshOnIt

What a great idea to offer these printables along with the recipe, Jen. P.S. I don’t care if Hunt’s tastes the same. It’s just wrong =) #heinzforlife

http://tutti-dolci.com Laura (Tutti Dolci)

Love your ketchup and those labels are the best!

http://www.thesweet-toothlife.com Mary Frances

Haha! I’ve gone to the death over foods and been wrong, too. Oh well, you can’t argue with homemade – its always better! I cannot wait for our first rhubarb; I keep seeing all these incredible recipes. And I love those labels, they are so cute!

http://cakemerchant.com Natasha @ The Cake Merchant

I’ve never been a fan of ketchup, mostly because I find it to be too sweet, but I could totally get on board with a homemade version. Love this cute little labels, as well.

http://alwayswithyoo.blogspot.com Jane Y.

i have always put ketchup on everything as well! will definitely bookmark this recipe and i love jessica’s printables! such a talented gal!

http://virtuallyhomemade.com Liz@Virtually Homemade

I’m absolutely in love with those labels! So fun.

http://littleferrarokitchen.com Samantha @FerraroKitchen

I just HAD to comment on this!! I am a ketchup addict too! I am not only addicted to anything with tomatoes in it, but ketchup too and I know the difference between Heinz and “other brands”. I have always wanted to make my own ketchup and this recipe looks just perfect!

http://www.thewellflouredkitchen.com Sherri@The Well Floured Kitchen

I just made my own ketchup for the first time last week, but only because we ran out! It was shockingly easy and the whole family enjoyed it. I also only buy organic due to the sketchy ingredient lists. I never would have thought to put rhubarb into it. I absolutely love the labels, what a cute gift idea.

http://tramplingrose.com Rachel

Yeah, I’m a ketchup addict too. #TeamHeinz! I eschew most condiments, except that one. I’m hoping late this summer, we’ll have enough tomatoes from our garden that I can make & can a bunch of homemade ketchup.

http://theviewfromgreatisland.com sue/the view from great island

So creative, and just the idea of rhubarb in ketchup is fabulous!

http://circahappy.com PANG I circahappy

I am SO going to make this when I visit my parents in Thailand next time; they will be SO HAPPY for the very first homemade ketchup!!!! I can’t tell you how happy I am to have found your blog (a little late, I know) whoopee :)

http://www.scoopadventures.com Lindsay

Can this recipe be safely canned? I’m not sure I will go through that much ketchup in one month but I would love to make the recipe.

Jennifer Farley

Oh sure. I couldn’t use that much ketchup in a month either so I gave the jars away as gifts :)

http://www.figsandcream.com Kristin

Jennifer-
Love all that you do! Beautiful ketchup and so neat to find out about Coco & Mingo!
Have a beautiful day!
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